Jacquard mechanism

ABSTRACT

The movement of the lifting hooks from one draw knife to the other is carried out by means of a bendable spring for each lifting hook. The spring is flexed or bowed between two positions to move a lifting hook. Flexing is caused by means of a selector mechanism programmed to move a flexing element. In one case, the flexing element blocks the upward movement of the spring to cause bending. In another case, the flexing element directly causes bending of the spring.

1 1 JACQUARD MECHANISM [75] Inventors: Brenner Wolfgang; Feier Gllnter;

Vinnemarm Antonius, all of Stuttgart, Germany [73] Assignee: SulzerBrothers Limited,

, Winterthur, Switzerland [22 Filed: May 17, 1973 [21] Appl. No.:361,036

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data May 19, 1972 Switzerland 7465/72[52] US. Cl. 139/59 [51] Int. Cl. D03c 3/20 [58] Field of Search 139/55,59, 65, 68; 66/25, 66/50 R, 75; 3110/26 8.5, 8.6

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2.714.901 8/1955 Casper139/59 2,868,232 1/1959 Foster et a1 s 139/59 3.1101124 11/1963 Flanagan310/36 l l l 1 l 1 L t Primary Examiner-Henry S. Jaudon Attorney, Agent,or Firm-Kenyon & Kenyon Reilly Carr & C hapin [57] ABSTRACT The movementof the lifting hooks from one draw knife to the other is carried out bymeans of a bendable spring for each lifting hook. The spring is flexedor bowed between two positions to move a lifting hook. Flexing is causedby means of a selector mechanism programmed to move a flexing element.In one case, the flexing element blocks the upward movement of thespring to cause bending. In another case, the flexing element directlycauses bending of the spring.

21 Claims, 15 Drawing Figures PATENTS] W 1 W975 3. 87 l .415

sum 05JF13 3.. Fig.5

PATENTED W 1 819175 SHEET 07 0F 13 Fig.7

mmgmm 1 81925 3871,4155

SHEET 120$ 13 PATENTEU I 8 W5 3. 87 1.415

sum 13 ar *13 1 JACQUARD MECHANISM This invention relates to a jacquardmachine and, particularly, to a means for displacing lifting hooks intoand out of coupling engagement with draw knives.

Jacquard machines are known in which lifting hooks for forming a shed ofwarps are lowered by means of jacquard needles which are actuated bymeans of a reciprocating grate. Usually, the jacquard needles are movedinto or kept away from the path of grate movement in accordance with apunched card sensed by sensing needles.

Jacquard machines have also been known which do not use a punched cardand sensing needles but instead use a selector comprising flexuraloscillators, e.g. electrostrictive or magnetostrictive elements, foroperating the lifting hooks. In this case, a mechanical or pneumatictransmission is usually provided between such oscillators and thelifting hooks.

However, the displacing facilities, e.g., coupling means which are usedin machines of this kind and which comprise the selector and thetransmission mechanism are relatively complicated, take up considerablespace and have a number of moving parts and so are fairly likely to bedisturbed in operation.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a system formoving the lifting hooks ofa jacquard machine which is relativelysimple.-

It is another object of the invention to provide a system for moving thelifting hooks ofa jacquard machine which occupies a relatively smallspace.

It is another object of the invention to provide a sys tem of relativelyfew parts for moving the lifting hooks of a jacquard machine.

It is another object of the invention to avoid disturbances in themoving of the lifting hooks of a jacquard machine.

Briefly, the invention provides a jacquard machine of generallyconventional structure with a plurality of lifting hooks, draw knivesand a means for selectively displacing the lifting hooks into and out ofcoupling engagement with the draw knives in a programmed manner. Thedisplacing means includes an elongated spring which is bowed between afirst position with one lifting hook coupled to a respective knife and asecond position with the same lifting hook uncoupled from this knife.The spring serves to effect movement of the associated lifting hookbetween the various selective lifting hook positions on the respectivedraw knives.

The term bowed" is used generally to indicate flexure and is notintended to be limited to a simple curve.

The bendable spring is incorporated in a transmission mechanism whichconnects the spring to a respective lifting hook and cooperates with aselector mechanism which selects the position for the hook. To this end,the spring serves as the connection between the selector mechanism andthe transmission mechanism. In order to select a hook for a rising drawknife, the selector mechanism is actuated so that the spring is allowedto remain in one position while the associated lifting hook is engagedupon upward movement of the knife. In order to move the hook to theother knife when rising, the selector mechanism is thereafter actuatedso that the spring is flexed into its second position. This causes thelifting hook to move out of the path of the first knife and into thepath of the other knife.

The bendable spring has been found to act as a very simple couplingelement which has no rotating parts. The spring occupies little spaceand so the overall displacing means takes up little space. This is ofadvantage when a large number of lifting hooks and associated bendablesprings are needed as, for instance. when each or virtually eachindividual warp yarn of a loom is to be controlled individually. Theinvention does allow an unrestricted choice of side repeat (repeat inthe weft direction).

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become moreapparent from the following detailed description and appended claimstaken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a diagrammatic view of a jacquard machine accordingto the invention used in a loom;

FIG. 2 illustrates a view to an enlarged scale of some of the main itemsof FIG. 1;

FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 illustrate views to an even larger scale of theselector mechanism, transmission mechanism, a lifting hook and theknives of FIG. 2 in various positions;

FIG. 6 illustrates a perspective view of an associated detail of theconnection of a spring to a lifting hooks;

FIGS. 7, 8 and So each views in section of three variants of a selectormechanism according to the invention;

FIGS. 9 and 10 illustrate diagrammatic view of two elements of FIGS. 7,8 and 8a;

FIG. II illustrates a modification of the displacing means according tothe invention;

FIG. 12 illustrates a double lifting hook useable with the invention;

FIG. 13 illustrates a modified selector mechanism according to theinvention;

FIG. 14 illustrates a view of the selector mechanism of FIG. 13 inanother position; and

FIG. 15 illustrates a modified selector using tongues as reeds.

Referring to FIG. 1, a jacquard machine 1 is disposed immediately abovea shed 2 with a loom of conventional structure. The loom comprisesa warpbeam 11,

a breast beam 13 over which warp yarns or threads I2 pass in thedirection indicated by an arrow 54 while the machine is in operation,eyes or mails 21 of heddles 23 and a reed 39. Weft yarns are picked intothe shed 2 by a gripper shuttle 35 and beaten up by the reed 39 at shedapex or fell 4 to form a cloth (fabric 6). The cloth passes over a clothtake-up roller 15 and a guide roller 17 and is wound on a cloth beam 19.

The jacquard machine 1 has two draw knives 8, 9 which are movable inseparate vertical paths for effecting movements of the heddles 23 toform the shed 2. In addition, a downwardly acting tension spring 25 anda lifting hook 14 adapted to be coupled with the knives 8, 9 act on eachheddle 23 as shown. The knives 8, 9 are constructed to rise and fallcontinuously and alternately, and each carries a hook 51, 52respectively. In the reversal or dead center position shown in FIG. 2and in the other reversal or dead center position, in which knife 8 isat the top and knife 9 at the bottom, a weft is picked. In this case,the jacquard machine is a double-lift open-shed machine.

Referring to FIG. 2, each heddle 23 has a hook 24 at the upper end bywhich the heddle 23 is suspended in an associated lifting hook 14. Inaddition, each lifting hook 14 which is a single hook passes through anopening in a stationary board and carries two hooks 26, 27 for selectiveengagement with the knifes 8, 9 as well as a hook 28 at the upper endfor selective engagement with one of the two claws 29, 30 disposed on astationary support beam 3l of the machine 1. The board 25', the claws29, 30 and the support beam 31 each extend over the entire weaving widthof the loom.

In addition, referring to FIGS. I and 2, the jacquard machine 1 has adisplacing means 16 at the top which serves to connect each lifting hook14 to one or the other of the knives 8, 9. This displacing means 16includes a selector mechanism 18 and a transmission mechanism 20.

Referring to FIG. 2, the selector mechanism 18 in eludes a large numberof control elements such as flexing elements 33 each of which is mountedin the support beam 31 at one end 32. Each element 33 has a free bottomend 34 that can be moved left or right, as viewed. via an externalfield. eg. an electric or magnetic field or via a change in temperatureof the elements 33 by passing a current through each. Thus, each element33 functions as a movable control element.

The transmission mechanism 20 includes a pair of stationary rails 36, 38which extend below the beam 31 and extend over the width of the loom.These rails 36, 38 support spaced apart pins 41 on each of which a slideblock 41 is slidably mounted between the confines of the rails 36, 38.As shown in FIG. 6, each slide block 4| has a guide 44 in which abendable elongate spring 43, e.g. a spring strip. is mounted. Inaddition. a guide slot 60 is provided in the block 41 to slidablyreceive a lifting hook I4 in a loose relation.

Referring to FIG. 2, the bottom end 45 of each spring 43 is rolled andis rotatably mounted in a part of the machine frame such as a grate orapertured plate 46 which is mounted for reciprocating motion in avertical direction and extends across the whole weaving width of theloom. The upper end of the spring passes into an opening or slot in tehbottom of the beam 31 to abut or be spaced below the bottom end 34 of anelement 33.

The selector mechanism 16 serves to move the control elements 33 into aparticular position in accordance with a pattern or texture programwhile the transmission mechanism 20 transmits a movement to the liftinghooks in accordance with the position of the control elements 33.

Operation is as follows:

With the jacquard machine I in the position shown in FIG. 2. the hooks27, 52 couple the lifting hook 14 to the rising draw knife 9. Also, thehook 28 and claw 29 couple the lifting hook I4 with the support beam I3.Shortly before knife 9 reaches its top reversal position, the grate 46moves into its top position. shown in FIG. 3. Since the control element33 is in a blocking position in which the slot 40 in the beam 31 iscovered. the spring 43 cannot rise in this region and so the spring 43deflects into the bent position shown in FIG. 3. Consequently, the slideblock 41 and the lifting hook 14 are pressed to the right. When theknife 9 reaches the top reversal position, the hook 28 and claw 29disengage so that the lifting hook 14 moves into the top right positionshown in FIG. 3. The gripper shuttle 35 then picks a weft.

Thereafter. the knife 8 rises and knife 9 descends. Because of thetension spring 25, the lifting hook 14 descends with knife 9. When hook28 is lower than claw 29, the grate 46 returns to its bottom position inwhich the grate 46 is inoperative as regards sensing the selector [8,spring 43 moving into the straight or extended position shown in FIG. 2.The lifting hook 14 then moves into the left" position and continues todescend until the hooks 28 and claw 30 engage with one another. Thelifter 14 is now in the bottom left position. Before the lifting hook 14moves into the left" position, the rising knife 8 passes by the hook 26so that coupling of the hook 26 and hook 51 cannot occur.

During the descent of knife 9, each element 33 receives a new selectionsignal, so that the element 33 moves, e.g. into the bent position 330 ofFIG. 4, in which position the slot 40 is open.

Shortly before knife 9 reaches the bottom reversal position and knife 8the top reversal position, grate 46 rises and senses the element 33.Since the element 33 is in the bent position 33a of FIG. 4, spring 43moves into the top straight or extended position 430 which can be seenin FIG. 4. Lifting hook 14 therefore remains in the bottom leftposition. Finally. knife 8 reaches the top reversal position and knife 9the bottom reversal position. The next weft is picked. whereafter thegrate 46 and spring 43 move into the bottom inoperative position shownin FIG. 2, the lifting hook l4 staying in the bottom left position.

During the next fall of knife 8 and rise of knife 9, hook 51 passes bythe outside of hook 26, with the result that the lifting hook I4 ismoved briefly to the right, but snaps back immediately into the bottomleft position. Knife 9 meanwhile rises inoperatively.

During the further sensing of the control element 33 by the spring 43and grate 46, it is assumed that the spring 43 remains in the straightposition of FIG. 4, so that lifting hooks 14 remains in the bottom leftposition. At the next rise of knife 8 and fall of knife 9, the hook 51engages in the hook 26 and the lifting hook I4 is lifted. Initially,hook 28 disengages from claw 30, but subsequently hook 28 moves past theoutside of claw 29 until finally moving over into engagement in claw 29(FIG. 5).

At the next sensing of element 33 by spring 43, the lifting hook 14 maytake up the left" position. e.g. because of the element 33 being inposition 33a. Knife 8 then falls and knife 9 rises. Lifting hook I4remains in the top left position of FIG. 5, and so on.

As shown in FIG. 3, the hook 27 is shorter than hook 26, so that whenthe knife 9 is in the bottom reversal position. the hook 27 can moveover the hook 52 upon bending of the spring 43 and the lifting hook 14can be lifted at the next rise of knife 9.

Since the engagement position for the hook 28 and claws 29, 30 isdisposed above the displacing movement of the slide block 42, thedeflecting movement of the double hook 26, 27 is correspondinglygreater. The amount of the latter movement can be varied by appropriateaction on the relationship between the distance of the claw 29 or 30from the slide block 42 and the distance of the slide block 42 from thereversal positions of the double hooks 26, 27.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 7, it is assumed that the bottom freeend 34 of the control element 33 has a foot-shaped protecting cap 53 andthat the slot 40 for the spring 43 is closed when the element 33 is inthe chain-line deflected position 33a.

In the example shown in FIG. 8, the slot 40a is in the covered statewhen the element 33 is in a straight position, so that the bent position43a of the spring 43 occurs during sensing. In this example, the controlelement 33 has a protective cap 530.

In the construction shown in FIG. 8a, the control element 33 has ahorseshoe-shaped spring 53b adapted to close the slot 40 thus ensuringthat there is very little stressing of the element 33 by the spring 43during sensing.

The slot 40a can have an inclined portion 40b on the bend side of thespring 43, if so desired, in which event the spring 43 can virtuallyengage with the part 4% during bending. The bending force which thegrate 46 is required to produce is decreased by this feature.

As shown in FIG. 9, the control element 33 can be e.g. amagnetostrictive element, comprising two strips 67, 69 which expanddifferently from one another in an applied magnetic field, so thatbending occurs. Such field can be produced by means of a winding 71which can be connected via a switch 72 to a power supply 73 or else canbe connected to the appropriate part of a programmer.

In an alternative form, shown in FIG. 10, an electrostrictive(piezoelectric) flexural element 65 is used, in the form e.g. of twostrips of different material, the two materials expanding differentlywhen an electric field is applied to the two outer electrodes 73a. Dueto the different expansions of the materials, the element takes up abent position.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 11, there are two control elements 33,33b, two bending springs 43, 43b and two lifting hooks 14, 14a disposedsymmetrically of one another in the same support member 31. The twoelements, springs and lifting hooks can be controlled eithersynchronously, as shown, or asynchronously. For instance, the element 33can be in the bent position shown and the element 33b in the straightposition, so that spring 43 is in the straight position and spring 43bin the bent position. In such a case, the lifting hook 14 is in theposition shown, whereas lifting hook 14b is displaced to the right. Thisconstruction requires very little space.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 12, a double lifting hook 70 having twoarms 70a, 70b is guided in a single slide block 42a formed with twoguide slots 60, 60a for the arms 70a, 70b. The spring 43 can thereforebe used to displace double lifters.

In the variant of FIG. 13, the grate 46 is stationary. The spring 43 isso devised that the inoperative position is the solid-line bent positionof FIG. 13. Control element 33 can reciprocate as shown by arrow 85.When the element 33 is in the straight position, upon moving to the leftthe element 33 strikes the spring 43 to move the spring 43 into thechain-like straight position 43b, in which a motion for displacing thelifting hooks can be derived from the rise of the spring end 50.

If the control element 33 is deflected perpendicularly to the plane ofthe drawing by an electric field, the element cannot abut the spring 43,and so the spring 43 remains in the solid-line bent position.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 14, the grate 46 is a rise and falldevice. The spring 43b has a top hook 86 and, like the spring of FIG.13, has for an inoperative position, the bent chain-line position 43c ofFIG. 14. In operation, with the element 33 in a flexed position out ofthe plane of the spring 43b, when grate 46 falls, the hook 86 remains inabutment with the support beam 31 while the spring 43b moves fromposition 43c into a straight position (not shown). Should the element 33move from the flexed position, in which it has been bent at right-anglesto the plane of the drawings, into a straight position in which theelement 33 is disposed in the plane of the drawing then when grate 46rises again, spring 43b strikes element 34 and remains in the straightposition, so that the hook 86 rises into the solid-Iine position shownin FIG. I4. A displacing movement for the lifting hooks I4 can bederived from this rise of the hook 86.

In the variant of FIG. 15, the flexural elements of the selector 18 arereplaced by tongues or reeds or the like 83 which are actuated byelectromagnets 84 and which are adapted to pivot outwardly.

In all the examples, the actuating elements 33, 33a, 84 of the selector18 are supplied with signals corresponding to the programmed clothpatterning by an electrical or electronic signal generator.

The above used terminology bendable elongate spring 43 corresponds tothe term Knickfeder" in the original Swiss application. This latter termmeans an elongated spring which is not articulated at the ends but onlyat the middle and this while making use of a compressive or tensileforce (FIGS. 2-9, ll, 12) on one or both spring ends or by use of aforce imposed transversely on the middle of the spring. The position ofrest, i.e., unstressed position, may be an extended position as shown inFIG. 4. The bent position, i.e., stressed position is then as shown inFIG. 3. These positions may also be reversed as shown in FIGS. 13 and14.

What is claimed is:

1. In a jacquard machine having lifting hooks, a pair of draw knives andmeans for selectively displacing said lifting books into couplingengagement with a respective knife, said means including a bendablespring connected to a respective one of said lifting hooks, said springbeing bendable between a first position with said one lifting hookcoupled to a respective draw knife and a second position with said onelifting hook uncoupled from said respective draw knife and coupled tothe other of said draw knifes.

2. In a jacquard machine as set forth in claim I wherein said displacingmeans includes a selector mechanism for selecting said respectivelifting hook to be coupled to a respective knife and a transmissionmechanism including said spring for moving a selected lifting hookbetween said positions, said transmission mechanism being connected tosaid selector mechanism through said spring.

3. In a jacquard machine having lifting hooks;

a pair'of draw knives;

means for selectively displacing said lifting hooks into couplingengagement with a respective knife, said means including a bendablespring connected to a respective one of said lifting hooks, said springbeing bendable between a first position with said one lifting hookcoupled to a respective draw knife and a second position with said onelifting hook uncoupled from said respective draw knife, said displacingmeans furtherincluding a selector mechanism for selecting saidrespective lifting hook to be coupled to a respective knife and atransmission mechanism including said spring for moving a selectedlifting hook between said positions, said transmission mechanism beingconnected to said selector mechanism through said spring, and

a machine part abutting one end of said spring and wherein said springselectively abuts against said selector mechanism at an opposite end,said machine part and said selector mechanism being movable relativetowards each other to bend said spring.

4. In a jacquard machine as set forth in claim 3 wherein said selectormechanism includes a deflectable actuating element for selectivemovement into and out of the path of said opposite end of said spring.

5. In a jacquard machine as set forth in claim 4 wherein said actuatingelement has a spring extending therefrom to abut said opposite end ofsaid bendable spring.

6. in a jacquard machine as set forth in claim 3 wherein said machinepart is a grate having a recess for receiving said end of said springtherein and said end is rolled.

7. In a jacquard machine as set forth in claim 3 further including meansfor pivoting the top end of said spring during bending.

8. In a jacquard machine as set forth in claim 3 wherein said selectormechanism is a flexural element.

9. In a jacquard machine as set forth in claim 3 wherein saidtransmission mechanism includes a slide block secured to said spring formoving therewith, said respective lifting hook being secured to saidslide block to move therewith between said positions.

10. In a jacquard machine as set forth in claim 9 wherein saidrespective lifting hook is a double lifter having a pair of arms securedin said slide block.

11. In a jacquard machine as set forth in claim 3 wherein saidrespective lifting hook is a single lifting hook having a pair of hookspositioned for selective engagement with one of said knives.

12. In a jacquard machine as set forth in claim II which furtherincludes a stationary support beam and wherein said respective liftinghook has a hook at an upper end to engage said stationary support beam.

l3. In ajacquard machine having lifting hooks, a pair of draw knives,and means for selectively displacing said lifting hooks into couplingengagement with a respective knife, said means including a bendablespring connected to a respective one of said lifting hooks, said springbeing bendable between a first position with said one lifting hookcoupled to a respective draw knife and :1 second position with said onelifting hook uncoupled from said respective draw knife, said displacingmeans further including a flexural element for selecting said respectivelifting hook to be coupled to a respective knife and a transmissionmechanism including said spring for moving a selected lifting hookbetween said positions, said transmission mechanism being connected tosaid flexural element through said spring.

14. In ajacquard machine having lifting hooks, a pair of draw knives andmeans for selectively displacing said lifting hooks into couplingengagement with a respecmoving a selected lifting hook between saidpositions, said transmission mechanism being connected to said selectormechanism through said spring, said transmission mechanism including aslide block secured to said spring for moving therewith, said respectivelifting book being secured to said slide block to move therewith betweensaid positions.

15. In a jacquard machine as set forth in claim 14 wherein saidrespective lifting hook is a double lifter having a pair of arms securedin said slide block.

16. A jacquard machine comprising a frame part;

lifting hooks;

reciprocating draw knives;

means for selectively displacing said lifting hooks into couplingengagement with a respective knife, said means at least one springmovable between an extended position and a bent position including aselector mechanism mounted in movable relation relative to said framepart, and said spring being mounted at one end in said frame part andbeing disposed at the opposite end for movement through a path in saidselector mechanism during movement between said positions in response torelative movement between said selector mechanism and said frame part;and

at least one movable control element in said selector mechanism formovement into and out of the path of said opposite end of said springwhereby upon movement of said control element out of said path, saidspring is movable into said extended position and upon movement of saidcontrol element into said path, said spring is movable into said bentposition in response to movement of said frame part and said selectormechanism towards each other.

17. A jacquard machine as set forth in claim 16 wherein said selectormechanism has a slot for receiving said opposite end of said spring andsaid control element has a spring extending therefrom to close said slotto entry of said opposite end of said spring.

18. A jacquard machine as set forth in claim 16 wherein said controlelement is a flexural element.

19. A jacquard machine as set forth in claim 16 wherein said frame partis a grate having a recess for receiving said one end of said springtherein.

20. A jacquard machine as set forth in claim 16 which further comprisesa slide block secured to said spring for moving with said spring in thedirection of said positions, and wherein a respective lifting hook isguided within said slide block to move therewith for displacement intoor and out of coupling engagement with a respective knife.

21. In a jacquard machine having lifting hooks; a pair of draw knives,each draw knife being movable in a separate vertical path; and means forselectively displacing said books into coupling engagement with arespective knife, said means including a bendable spring connected to anintermediate part of a respective one of said lifting hooks, said springbeing bendable between a straight position and a bent position, wherebysaid lifting hook is located in the path of one of said knife with saidspring in said straight position and in the path of the other said knifewith said spring in said bent posia 41 a e

1. In a jacquard machine having lifting hooks, a pair of draw knives andmeans for selectively displacing said lifting hooks into couplingengagement with a respective knife, said means including a bendablespring connected to a respective one of said lifting hooks, said springbeing bendable between a first position with said one lifting hookcoupled to a respective draw knife and a second position with said onelifting hook uncoupled from said respective draw knife and coupled tothe other of said draw knifes.
 2. In a jacquard machine as set forth inclaim 1 wherein said displacing means includes a selector mechanism forselecting said respective lifting hook to be coupled to a respectiveknife and a transmission mechanism including said spring for moving aselected lifting hook between said positions, said transmissionmechanism being connected to said selector mechanism through saidspring.
 3. In a jacquard machine having lifting hooks; a pair of drawknives; means for selectively displacing said lifting hooks intocoupling engagement with a respective knife, said means including abendable spring connected to a respective one of said lifting hooks,said spring being bendable between a first position with said onelifting hook coupled to a respective draw knife and a second positionwith said one lifting hook uncoupled from said respective draw knife,said displacing means further including a selector mechanism forselecting said respective lifting hook to be coupled to a respectiveknife and a transmission mechanism including said spring for moving aselected lifting hook between said positions, said transmissionmechanism being connected to said selector mechanism through saidspring, and a machine part abutting one end of said spring and whereinsaid spring selectively abuts against said selector mechanism at anopposite end, said machine part and said selector mechanism beingmovable relative towards each other to bend said spring.
 4. In ajacquard machine as set forth in claim 3 wherein said selector mechanismincludes a deflectable actuating element for selective movement into andout of the path of said opposite end of said spring.
 5. In a jacquardmachine as set forth in claim 4 wherein said actuating element has aspring extending therefrom to abut said opposite end of said bendablespring.
 6. In a jacquard machine as set forth in claim 3 wherein saidmachine part is a grate having a recess for receiving said end of saidspring therein and said end is rolled.
 7. In a jacquard machine as setforth in claim 3 further including means for pivoting the top end ofsaid spring during bending.
 8. In a jacquard machine as set forth inclaim 3 wherein said selector mechanism is a flexural element.
 9. In ajacquard machine as set forth in claim 3 wherein said transmissionmechanism includes a slide block secured to said spring for movingtherewith, said respective lifting hook being secured to said slideblock to move therewith between said positions.
 10. In a jacquardmachine as set forth in claim 9 wherein said respective lifting hook isa double lifter having a pair of arms secured in said slide block. 11.In a jacquard machine as set forth in claim 3 wherein said respectivelifting hook is a single lifting hook having a pair of hooks positionedfor selective engagement with one of said knives.
 12. In a jacquardmachine as set forth in claim 11 which further includes a stationarysupport beam and wherein said respective lifting hook has a hook at anupper end to engage said stationary support beam.
 13. In a jacquardmachine having lifting hooks, a pair of draw knives, and means forselectively displacing said lifting hooks into coupling engagement witha respective knife, said means including a bendable spring connected toa respective one of said Lifting hooks, said spring being bendablebetween a first position with said one lifting hook coupled to arespective draw knife and a second position with said one lifting hookuncoupled from said respective draw knife, said displacing means furtherincluding a flexural element for selecting said respective lifting hookto be coupled to a respective knife and a transmission mechanismincluding said spring for moving a selected lifting hook between saidpositions, said transmission mechanism being connected to said flexuralelement through said spring.
 14. In a jacquard machine having liftinghooks, a pair of draw knives and means for selectively displacing saidlifting hooks into coupling engagement with a respective knife, saidmeans including a bendable spring connected to a respective one of saidlifting hooks, said spring being bendable between a first position withsaid one lifting hook coupled to a respective draw knife and a secondposition with said one lifting hook uncoupled from said respective drawknife, said displacing means includes a selector mechanism for selectingsaid respective lifting hook to be coupled to a respective knife and atransmission mechanism including said spring for moving a selectedlifting hook between said positions, said transmission mechanism beingconnected to said selector mechanism through said spring, saidtransmission mechanism including a slide block secured to said springfor moving therewith, said respective lifting hook being secured to saidslide block to move therewith between said positions.
 15. In a jacquardmachine as set forth in claim 14 wherein said respective lifting hook isa double lifter having a pair of arms secured in said slide block.
 16. Ajacquard machine comprising a frame part; lifting hooks; reciprocatingdraw knives; means for selectively displacing said lifting hooks intocoupling engagement with a respective knife, said means at least onespring movable between an extended position and a bent positionincluding a selector mechanism mounted in movable relation relative tosaid frame part, and said spring being mounted at one end in said framepart and being disposed at the opposite end for movement through a pathin said selector mechanism during movement between said positions inresponse to relative movement between said selector mechanism and saidframe part; and at least one movable control element in said selectormechanism for movement into and out of the path of said opposite end ofsaid spring whereby upon movement of said control element out of saidpath, said spring is movable into said extended position and uponmovement of said control element into said path, said spring is movableinto said bent position in response to movement of said frame part andsaid selector mechanism towards each other.
 17. A jacquard machine asset forth in claim 16 wherein said selector mechanism has a slot forreceiving said opposite end of said spring and said control element hasa spring extending therefrom to close said slot to entry of saidopposite end of said spring.
 18. A jacquard machine as set forth inclaim 16 wherein said control element is a flexural element.
 19. Ajacquard machine as set forth in claim 16 wherein said frame part is agrate having a recess for receiving said one end of said spring therein.20. A jacquard machine as set forth in claim 16 which further comprisesa slide block secured to said spring for moving with said spring in thedirection of said positions, and wherein a respective lifting hook isguided within said slide block to move therewith for displacement intoor and out of coupling engagement with a respective knife.
 21. In ajacquard machine having lifting hooks; a pair of draw knives, each drawknife being movable in a separate vertical path; and means forselectively displacing said hooks into coupling engagement with arespective knife, said means including a bendable spring connected to anintermediate part of a respective onE of said lifting hooks, said springbeing bendable between a straight position and a bent position, wherebysaid lifting hook is located in the path of one of said knife with saidspring in said straight position and in the path of the other said knifewith said spring in said bent position.